College football's Week 7 delivered some absolute shockers, leaving us all wondering: Who's going up, and who's crashing down in the AP Top 25? This week was packed with nail-biting finishes and unexpected upsets, setting the stage for a major reshuffling of the rankings. Playoff dreams are on the line, and conference races are heating up! Buckle up, because we're diving into the results that are guaranteed to spark debate.
Friday night and Saturday afternoon's games provided a first taste of the chaos to come. Alabama narrowly escaped with a win against Missouri in an SEC showdown, but Florida State's losing streak deepened, and South Florida exploded for a massive point total. Let's break down the teams poised to climb, those likely to fall, and the wild cards that could throw everything into disarray.
Teams Expected to Rise:
No. 24 South Florida: The Bulls are charging! They demolished North Texas 63-36 on Friday, extending their winning streak and handing North Texas their first defeat of the season. South Florida's offense is on FIRE, having scored 50+ points in three consecutive games. Their return to the rankings last week was impressive, but this performance could launch them even higher. Could South Florida become a dark horse contender this season?
No. 8 Alabama: The Crimson Tide held on for a 27-24 victory over No. 14 Missouri, thanks to a clutch interception by Dijon Lee Jr. in the final minute. It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win, especially in the ultra-competitive SEC. This marks Alabama's third straight SEC win, solidifying their position as a legitimate playoff threat. But here's where it gets controversial... Some analysts argue that Alabama's performance was far from dominant, raising questions about their long-term prospects. Is Alabama truly back, or are they just scraping by?
Teams Expected to Fall:
No. 25 Florida State: Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Remember when Florida State was undefeated and a top-10 team? Those days feel like a distant memory. The Seminoles suffered their third consecutive loss, falling to Pitt 34-31. After losses to Virginia, Miami, and now Pitt, Florida State's ranking is in serious jeopardy. And this is the part most people miss... Florida State's struggles highlight the importance of consistency in college football. A strong start means nothing if you can't maintain that level of play throughout the season.
No. 4 Mississippi: Ole Miss barely squeaked out a 24-21 win against Washington State in a game many expected them to dominate. The Rebels stumbled out of the gate, struggling to find any rhythm on offense. While they eventually secured the victory, their performance was far from convincing for a team ranked in the top five. The question is, will the voters penalize them for playing down to their competition?
Wild Card:
- Missouri: Despite losing to Alabama, Missouri put up a valiant fight and demonstrated that they can play with the best. Their close loss to a top-10 team shouldn't cause a significant drop in the rankings. The Tigers proved they are a force to be reckoned with in the SEC.
Knocking on the Door:
- Cincinnati: The Bearcats continued their winning ways with a 20-11 victory over UCF, improving to 5-1 on the season. Cincinnati received the most votes of any unranked team last week and was only 18 points shy of cracking the Top 25. With Florida State's loss, Cincinnati could finally break into the rankings this week.
What do you think? Did the AP voters get it right? Which teams are overrated? Which are underrated? Let us know in the comments below!
